The Mike Quirke Podcast

Declan Quill - Raising standards and driving success with Kerry ladies football

Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of coaching with Declan Quill, former joint manager of the Kerry Ladies football team. Hear inspiring stories and insights from Quill on how he and his team transformed the coaching approach, leading the Kerry Ladies to All-Ireland glory. Discover the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way.
Whether you're a coach, parent, or sports enthusiast, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical insights to help you foster success in sports and life. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the field and explore new ways to enhance your coaching journey.
We also highlight a heartfelt initiative focusing on raising funds for the Tír na Nóg Foundation in Tanzania, run by Declan's sister, Louise Quill.
You can help support Tir Na Nóg orphanage by contributing to the fundraiser I've set up for listeners of the podcast; http://bit.ly/4fypLSh
 I'd also like to thank MFC Sports who have come on board as main sponsors of the podcast series and look forward to developing a productive relationship moving forward.
 

Speed matters with Hall of Fame sprint coach Tony Holler

In this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce Tony Holler, a Hall of Fame sprint coach from the United States and the mind behind the revolutionary “Feed the Cats” training philosophy. Known for challenging traditional approaches to speed training, Tony has transformed the way coaches think about developing sprint performance. Today, he’ll share his insights on prioritizing speed, avoiding burnout, and rethinking what it means to train athletes for peak performance.
Whether you're a coach, parent, or sports enthusiast, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical insights to help you foster success in sports and life. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the field and explore new ways to enhance your coaching journey.
 
You can help support Tir Na Nóg orphanage by contributing to the fundraiser I've set up for listeners of the podcast; http://bit.ly/4fypLSh
 Finally, I'd like to thank MFC Sports who have come on board as main sponsors of the podcast series and look forward to developing a productive relationship moving forward.

Unleashing the power of coaching and the role of the sports parent with Wayne Goldsmith

In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the world of coaching with the legendary Wayne Goldsmith. A highly respected Australian coach, Wayne has spent over 30 years revolutionising sports coaching across various disciplines, including swimming, rugby, triathlon, and cricket. Join us as Wayne shares his innovative approach to coaching, focusing on athlete development, high performance, and youth empowerment.
Wayne's passion for fostering environments where young athletes can thrive is evident as he discusses the importance of resilience, motivation, and a growth mindset. He emphasizes the critical role of sports parents in supporting their children's athletic journeys and offers valuable advice on how parents can nurture a positive sports experience.
Through his extensive experience working with national teams, elite coaches, and community sports programs, Wayne has inspired countless individuals to rethink traditional approaches to youth sports. His unique perspectives on adaptability, creativity, and long-term athlete development have transformed how coaches, athletes, and families engage with sports, focusing on enjoyment, balance, and holistic growth.
Whether you're a coach, parent, or sports enthusiast, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical insights to help you foster success in sports and life. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the field and explore new ways to enhance your coaching journey.
 
You can help support Tir Na Nóg orphanage by contributing to the fundraiser I've set up for listeners of the podcast; http://bit.ly/4fypLSh
 Finally, I'd like to thank MFC Sports who have come on board as main sponsors of the podcast series and look forward to developing a productive relationship moving forward.

Empowering Change: The Journey of Louise Quill and Tír na nÓg Children's Foundation

Welcome to Season 4 of the Mike Quirke Podcast, where we dive deeper into the realms of sports coaching, performance, and the psychology of being a sports parent and plenty more. In this episode, we explore an inspiring story of change and resilience.Meet Louise Quill, a remarkable woman from Tralee, County Kerry, recently named Kerry Person of the Year. Her journey began with a vision to create a better future for children in Tanzania. Louise founded the Tír na nÓg Orphanage, a sanctuary that has transformed the lives of countless children in one of Africa's most poverty-stricken areas.This episode introduces you to the incredible work Louise has accomplished, building a sustainable facility that supports children from infancy to adulthood, equipping them with education and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. Discover how you can contribute to this life-changing cause, whether through child sponsorship or donations, and become a part of a story that continues to make a profound impact.Join us as we learn from Louise's journey and her unwavering commitment to fostering change, one child at a time. Help us support that change by contributing to the fundraiser I've set up for listeners of the podcast; http://bit.ly/4fypLSh
 
Watch Kilimanjaro Mama on Youtube - https://youtu.be/2IYoOKNVoyw?si=hwjGa8nLBbCpxJxX Finally, I'd like to sincerely thank MFC Sports who have come on board as main sponsors of the podcast series and look forward to developing a productive relationship moving forward.

Key coaching messages from series 3

In this week's episode, the last of the series, I wanted to provide a recap of some of the brilliant messages shared by all the various guests along the way.
I'd like to say a sincere thanks to all of those people who have come on and shared their vast knowledge with us and I'd also like to thank all of you that have listened, shared, and contributed to the fundraiser along the way.
I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI 
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast.
You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com
Thanks for listening.

Dr. Mark O’Sullivan - challenging the established norms of coaching our young sports people

In this week's episode, I got the opportunity to pick the brains of Dr Mark O'Sullivan, originally from Cork, the 'accidental' academic is now an associate professor of football at the Norwegian School of Sports Science and formerly head of youth development at AIK Stockholm who specialises in skill acquisition, coaching, as well as coach and youth development.
Mark is regarded as being at the cutting edge of a new wave of thinking about how best to coach our young sports people.
This is an episode not to be missed.
I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI 
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast.
You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com
Thanks for listening.

Think it, Do it, Become it - John McGrath’s remarkable journey from Mount Sion to Cape town

John McGrath is a former GAA player, an international rower, a circus strong man, a world record holder and so on...
The 6'6" Irish man lives in Paarl, South Africa and has earned renown as a strength and conditioning coach working with rugby players, the South African women’s tug-of-war team, and, most famously, Olympic silver medal and World Athletics Championship gold medal long jumper, Luvo Manyonga. 
Luvo came from a poverty stricken local township, and John tells of the incredible story how the pair struck up a strong bond that saw the young South African athlete kick an addiction to crystal meth and go on to achieve athletic greatness in both the Olympics and World Championships.
This is an interesting listen about a fascinating journey.
I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI 
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast.
You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com
Thanks for listening.

Navigating the nutrition minefield: John O’Connor - Kerry senior football head performance nutritionist

John O'Connor is this week's guest on the podcast - owner of Target Nutrition and head performance nutritionist with the Kerry senior football team. 
This episode is slightly different to previous efforts, where we talk all things food and nutrition information and misinformation. As parents, how do we fuel our young sports mad children? As coaches, how do help kids develop positive long-term associations with food, nutrition and hydration.
I found this a really informative chat about a subject that can be hugely confusing given the overload of information out there on the subject.
I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI 
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast.
You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com
Thanks for listening.